The School Shark (Galeorhinus galeus) is a small marine (saltwater) shark in the Triakidae family of houndsharks. It is also known as the Tope Shark and Snapper Shark.
The School Shark is a small shark with an elongated snout (nose). It has a large, crescent-shaped mouth with triangular-shaped, serrated teeth. It has two dorsal (back) fins – one is triangular and the other is smaller.
It grows to about 200 centimetres (78 inches) in length.
The School Shark is found worldwide in temperate seas in the Northeast Atlantic, Southwest Atlantic, in the Pacific Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. It is migratory.
It feeds in mid-water and near the ocean floor. It feeds on fish.
The School Shark is ovoviviparous. The female has eggs, which are fertilized and hatched internally, taking about 12 months to develop. She then gives birth to 28-38 live young, called pups, in shallow water.
The pups stay in the shallow water until they get bigger, but the adults move back to deeper water.
[Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM